1/11/2017 Sustainability: PERMACULTURE for Everyone Lynda Garvin, Agriculture Agent NMSU Cooperative extension Service Sustainability Definition EPA: Our survival and wellbeing depends on our natural environment (and vice versa) Create & maintain the conditions where humans and nature can exist in productive harmony to support present and future generations Time well spent blog 1 1/11/2017 Why is sustainability Important? Activity 1: Take a few minutes to write down what sustainability means to you: In your indoor and outdoor space Name 3 things you are already doing that contribute to sustainability. Name 1 thing you can do in the future to contribute to the sustainability of your community. 2 1/11/2017 Sustainability It’s a mindset It’s behavioral It’s a moral imperative It’s essential for the survival of our planet & all species It’s our responsibility Lets talk about stuff Don’t touch my stuff! 3 1/11/2017 What does this have to do with sustainability? “…the greatest change we can make is from consumption to production, even if on a small scale. If only 10% of us do this, there is enough for everyone.” Bill Mollison Father of the permaculture movement Advertising 2015 $80 billion spent You need this stuff to be: Good enough Validated Beautiful Competitive Successful Fulfilled Happy 4 1/11/2017 Planned Obsolescence Manufacturing stuff uses water, fossil fuels, human labor, resources…creates waste & pollution Built in Stop making that design Cheaper to buy new than fix Technology no longer supported Cheap manufactured goods – We don’t pay the true labor and environmental costs 5 1/11/2017 Housing US living spaces doubled since the 1950’s (980 sq. feet) US 2010 census average size 2,392 sq. feet What happens when you have more space? Self Storage Industry 2.2 billion dollar industry 2,300,000,000 square feet 6 1/11/2017 Main contributor to species loss Loss of habitat Human encroachment on their habitats (timber, agriculture, development, fishing…) Shrinking natural areas to feed, breed, and find shelter Other causes – Oil spills (other pollution) Acid rain Heating and cooling of the plant Hunting Natural disasters More about stuff & what you can do 7 1/11/2017 Sustainable Living & Permaculture 8 1/11/2017 1974 while teaching at the University of Tasmania, Bill Mollison and David Holmgren developed a joint framework for a Sustainable Agriculture System PERMACULTURE Permanent + Agriculture Permanent + Culture Mainly for household and community self- reliance 9 1/11/2017 PERMACULTURE Culture cannot survive without a sustainable agriculture base and landuse ethic Permanent ≠ fixed ≠ stagnant Sustainable Flowing Evolving Adapting over time 10 1/11/2017 Permaculture Mind set Lifestyle Holistic driven behaviors Socially responsible life choices Process PERMACULTURE ETHICS Earth Care People Care Share Surplus 11 1/11/2017 EARTH CARE Hippocratic Oath for the planet: “…I will abstain from all intentional wrong-doing and harm” Work with nature Build and protect resources Simplicity & diversity Do more with less PEOPLE CARE Everything and everyone is connected Meet basic needs: Food, water, shelter, education, meaningful livelihood, connection Help people become self-reliant and promote community responsibility 12 1/11/2017 Share Surplus Contribution of surplus: Time Products Money Energy To achieve the aims of earth and people care Permaculture Principles 13 1/11/2017 Activity 2: Draw a simple diagram representing your living space and homescape as it is now On the same sheet of paper draw a stick figure representing you Let’s look at your diagrams Who has their stick figure self next to your homescape? Who has their stick figure self inside their homescape? 14 1/11/2017 Where do I stand in the system/landscape/foodscape? Humans are not superior to other living forms. We are not masters over nature. See ourselves as nature; not separate from it. “Everything we do to other life forms we do to ourselves.” Bill Mollison Do you see yourself in the system or outside the system? Awareness is the first step to making change Seed2Need Leslie Davis 15 1/11/2017 Take time to observe and be in your homescape/foodscape/landscape Work with nature not against it What was the land and natural environment like in the past? Read natural history books Native vegetation and wildlife Take time to observe natural patterns and flows on the land throughout the seasons: Where do you like to hang out, walk, ponder Water Wind Sun Shade Warm and cool areas Wildlife Plant communities 16 1/11/2017 A note about microclimates Every plant Every structure Every object within the homescape (and around it) creates a microclimate – Temperature variation Moisture retention or drying Sheltered or exposure Otero Master Gardeners 17 1/11/2017 Design is making connections between things The parts of the home scape are viewed in relation to other things in the homescape, not in isolation Looking for and enhance relationships within the homescape so they work together efficiently Rod Geston mudhubllc.com Work with Nature not against it; cooperation not competition 18 1/11/2017 Work is Pollution “Tidiness is maintained disorder and a waste of energy.” Ben Haggard Optimize the edge – greatest diversity and fertility Relative Location Going with the flow of Water Land Personal habits Start small and get it right! 19 1/11/2017 A tale of the wrong place Go to Google map Garden Water spigot 20 1/11/2017 Everything Performs Many Services How do things interact with each other? What benefits do they provide to each other, the homescape, and household? Take time to look at and map these functions, interactions, & relationships to maximize all the resources & help in decision making Good practice: make sure every element you want has at least two functions Everything in the home scape performs many services Worm bin Kitchen Kitchen Garden 21 1/11/2017 New Mexican Olive Services/Functions: Oxygen maker Privacy Screen Windbreak Habitat and food for wildlife (chickens?) Nectar plant for pollinators Erosion control Soil builder Adds color and texture Carbon sink Don’t Forget You are a major resource and serve many functions/services within your permaculture system (homescape) 22 1/11/2017 Activity 3: Make a resource map of one thing in your garden/homescape Each important function is supported by many elements (have a backup) Irrigation water: Water Tanks filled with rainwater from roof gravity fed to drip system Well with pump connect hose from spigot to drip system Hand water herb garden from house tap Pond water 23 1/11/2017 Backup systems Energy: Solar panels Batteries to store energy for use at night or rainy days (we wish) Public electricity Gas water heater as backup Heat water on stove for shower Leave black bucket outside to warm water for shower Tree turbines Efficient Energy Planning Zone and placement of elements looking at: slope, sun & shade wind, water flow, temperature gradients… to maximize time, energy, and money 24 1/11/2017 http://www.newwind.fr/Arbre-vent_31.html Tesla solar Roof Panels Heating and cooking Solar Cooker Rocket Stove for heat Rocket stove for cooking 25 1/11/2017 Heat sinks for growing less cold tolerant plants and year long production Green building Straw bale house Cob House (adobe) 26 1/11/2017 Refuse, Reduce, Reuse/Repurpose, Recycle Zone Planning Intensity & frequency of use and management from highest (zone 0) to lowest (Zone 5). Smart use of your energy and mother nature’s. 27 1/11/2017 You may have only zone 0 & 1 28 1/11/2017 Our most limiting resource - WATER Where can you find it on your property? Where does it flow when it rains? Slow it down Collect it Reuse it - waste & gray water Slow it down and keep it on site Straw bales 29 1/11/2017 Swales – slow flow and hold water Straw bales 30 1/11/2017 Soil sponges Dig a hole Fill with organic matter Paper Cotton clothes Wood chips Leaves….. Absorbs and hold soil moisture Good for trees Build and maintain healthy soils The key to successful gardening Deep organically rich soil encourages the growth of healthy extensive roots Provides a beneficial environment for billions of organisms found in the soil food web 31 1/11/2017 pH & Nutrients – get your soil tested our pH is 7+ Optimum for plants 6.0-7.2 It influences how easily plants can take up nutrients from the soil When pH exceeds 7.5, iron, manganese, and phosphorus are less available. Plants have pH preferences Add Organic Matter Compost pile at Seed2Need 32 1/11/2017 Green Manure Plant fall & grow over winter. Cut and work it back into the soil Adds organic matter and nutrients Legumes add nitrogen: Clover, hairy vetch, peas, alfalfa, beans 33 1/11/2017 Cover Crops Sainfoin Sesbania New Zealand white clover Nitrogen fixing plants 34 1/11/2017 Fertilizers Finally lets talk about growing food 35 1/11/2017 Building Soil Health Healthy Soils Healthy Plants Healthy People -Rodale Institute 36 1/11/2017 You are what you eat 37 1/11/2017 Diet related chronic diseases Coronary Heart Disease Obesity Diabetes (Type 2) High Blood Pressure Stroke Osteoporosis & bone fracture Osteoarthritis Cancer Sleep Apnea Respiratory problems Gall Bladder Teeth and gum Disease, Weeds, & Insect Pest Best Management Tools Healthy soils and plants. Plants adapted to our climate. 38 1/11/2017 Use Biological Resources Create habitat for beneficial insects 39 1/11/2017 Mason Bee Houses Permaculture Plant Guild – built around a central plant Food Forest 40 1/11/2017 Small Scale Intensive Systems Diverse Planting is Key Prevents build up of pest, weed, and disease populations Confuse insect pests Adds variety to the garden and your plate Include nectary plants Intensive Garden Spacing • Square-foot gardening • Bio-intensive- closer spacing in a particular pattern • Weed suppression 41 1/11/2017 Disease, Weeds, & Insect Pest Best Management Tools Healthy soils and plants.